Investidura of the Pachuca Soccer Hall of Fame
In a night full of emotions, mixed feelings, memories, and many figures, the induction of 11 new members into the Pachuca Soccer Hall of Fame took place, in its seventh generation.
The first of the honored who are now part of the football “olympus” was Ramón Ramírez, who recognized that without the support of great teammates it would have been impossible to achieve what he did.
"I am convinced that individual success is surrounded by many people who together form the puzzle of success, that is why I am grateful to the people who have advised and scolded me. Thank you, Mexico, for allowing me to be born in this wonderful country," he said.
The Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov, the Spaniard Josep Guardiola, and the Uruguayan Enzo Francescoli were not present, but through a video they showed their gratitude for this tribute.
Stoichkov apologized for the goal he scored against Mexico in the 1994 World Cup, while Pep recalled the time he lived in Mexico and sent his best wishes to the people affected by the earthquake on September 19th.
Carlos Miloc Pelachi, who passed away in March this year, was also recognized and his daughter Sayonara Miloc was in charge of receiving the tribute and offering warm words on his behalf.
"On behalf of the family, I would like to thank you for this honor to my father, thank you always. My father was a warrior of life, a Tank, who never let himself be defeated, with my mother as his accomplice. He left like the great ones," she recalled.
In the category of the senior, the Spaniard Francisco Gento was recognized, a figure of Real Madrid, with which he won six European Cups and six Spanish Leagues, in addition to winning the Euro 64 with the national team of his country.
Also recognized were Ignacio "Cuate" Calderón and Guillermo "Tigre" Sepúlveda, who were fundamental parts of the "campeonísimo" Guadalajara.
Sepúlveda could not hide his excitement and even dared to sing a song in which he remembered Chivas' superiority over América, which he himself helped to establish.
Another one who is already in the hall of immortals is Alberto García Aspe, who recognized the coaches who influenced his career, such as Miguel Mejía Barón, Guillermo Vázquez, and Manuel Lapuente.
The last one to be recognized was the Argentine Jorge Valdano, world champion with his country's team in Mexico 86 and author of one of the three goals against Germany.
"One feels helpless when praised even though one is Argentine... I am proud to enter the Hall of Fame, it is incredible to see players of any age who still feel like footballers and since we feel that way, what better than to enter this place where we will be accompanied by people who have marked the history of this game," said the former coach of Real Madrid in Spain.
Rafael Márquez, Decio de María, president of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF); the Argentine coach of Guadalajara, Matías Almeyda; Hugo Sánchez, and the Portuguese Fernando Couto, were some of the personalities present at this seventh induction ceremony of the Pachuca Hall of Fame.
2017 Inductees:
- International football category
Enzo Francescoli
Hristo Stoichkov
Josep Guardiola
Jorge Valdano
- National football category
Ramón Ramírez
Carlos Miloc
Alberto García Aspe
- Seniors category
Francisco Gento
Ignacio Calderón
Guillermo Sepúlveda
- Women's category
Birgit Prinz